This appears to have been a well-known proverbial saying (cf. Luke 17:37; Job 39:30). One view of its meaning is that Jesus meant that the false Messiahs and the false prophets were similar to vultures ( Matthew 24:24; Matthew 24:26). They would be trying to pick the corpse of a dead Israel clean for their own advantage when Jesus returned. [1] This is a possibility in view of the context. Another view is that the corpse refers to Christ and the vultures are God"s children gathered to feed on Him. [2] However the idea of feeding on Christ is foreign to the context, and the comparison of Him to carrion is unappealing. Other interpreters take Jesus" illustration to mean "signs as visible and indicative [1]5 will herald the reality of the Parousia." [1]9 Another writer paraphrased the verse as follows to give another interpretation. [source][source][source]
". . . just as when life has abandoned a body, and it becomes a corpse, the vultures immediately swoop down upon it; so when the world has become rotten with evil, the Son of Man and His angels will come to execute the divine judgment." [1]9 [source]
The Greek word translated "vultures," aetoi, also means "eagles," but eagles rarely search out carrion. Still another view is that the figure emphasizes the swiftness of Messiah"s coming. [6] However the repulsive character of vultures and carrion suggest more than just a swift coming. Furthermore vultures do not always arrive and devour carrion swiftly. The view that appeals most to me is that Israel is the corpse and the vultures represent Israel"s hostile enemies. Where moral corruption exists, divine judgment falls (cf. Job 39:27-30). [6][source]
Context Summary
Matthew 24:15-28 - Beware Of False Christs
The abomination of desolation is explained in Luke 21:20, and probably refers to the Roman ensigns as the symbols of pagan and therefore unclean power. So urgent would be their need of flight that the outside steps of the houses must be used. None might try to save his property. Ever, the winter's cold must be faced, if life were to be saved; and the flight must be farther than could be covered on a Sabbath day, that is, according to Jewish law, less than a mile.
It is a matter of literal fact that there was compressed into the period of the Jewish War an amount of suffering perhaps unparalleled. Josephus' history of the period abounds in references to these false Christs who professed themselves to be the Messiah.
Notice that, though the elect may be powerfully tempted, they will repudiate and resist the attack and still remain loyal to their Lord. What a searching word is this!-"whom He did predestinate"¦ them He also glorified," Romans 8:30. They may be tempted, tried, almost deceived, but angels will bear them up in their hands and God will keep their feet. See Psalms 91:12; 1 Samuel 2:9. [source]
Chapter Summary: Matthew 24
1Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple; 3what and how great calamities shall be before it; 29the signs of his coming to judgment 36And because that day and hour are unknown, 42we ought to watch like good servants, expecting our Master's coming
Greek Commentary for Matthew 24:28
Carcase [πτωμα] As in Matthew 14:12, the corpse. Originally a fallen body from πιπτω piptō to fall, like Latin cadaver from cado, to fall. The proverb here as in Luke 17:37, is like that in Job 39:30; Proverbs 30:17. [source]
Eagles [αετοι] Perhaps the griffon vulture, larger than the eagle, which (Aristotle) was often seen in the wake of an army and followed Napoleon‘s retreat from Russia. [source]
Carcase [πτῶμα] From πίπτω , to fall. Originallya fall, and thence a fallen body; acorpse. Compare Lat. cadaver, from cado, to fall. See Mark 6:29; Revelation 11:8. On the saying itself, compare Job 39:30. [source]
Eagles [ἀετιό] Rev. puts vultures in margin. The griffon vulture is meant, which surpasses the eagle in size and power. Aristotle notes how this bird scents its prey from afar, and congregates in the wake of an army. In the Russian war vast numbers were collected in the Crimea, and remained until the end of the campaign in the neighborhood of the camp, although previously scarcely known in the country. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 24:28
Mark 6:29Corpse [] See on Matthew 24:28. Stier (“Words of Jesus”) says of Herod' “This man, whose inner life was burnt out; who was made up of contradictions, speaking of his kingdom like Ahasuerus, and yet the slave of his Jezebel; willingly hearing the prophet, and unwillingly killing him; who will be a Sadducee, and yet thinks of a resurrection; who has a superstitious fear of the Lord Jesus, and yet a curiosity to see him.”-DIVIDER-
[source]
Mark 6:29His corpse [το πτωμα αυτου] See note on Matthew 24:28. It was a mournful time for the disciples of John. “They went and told Jesus” (Matthew 14:12). What else could they do? [source]
Luke 17:37The eagles [οι αετοι] Or the vultures attracted by the carcass. This proverb is quoted also in Matthew 24:28. See Job 39:27-30; Habakkuk 1:8; and Hosea 8:1. Double compound (επισυν epi -επισυναχτησονται sun -) in epi -sun -achthēsontai completes the picture. [source]
Revelation 12:14The two wings of the great eagle [αι δυο πτερυγες του αετου του μεγαλου] Not the eagle of Revelation 8:13, but the generic use of the article. Every eagle had two wings. Probably here, as in Matthew 24:28, the griffon or vulture rather than the true eagle is pictured. For the eagle in the O.T. see Exodus 19:4; Isaiah 40:31; Job 9:26.That she might fly (ινα πετηται hina petētai). Purpose clause with ινα hina and present middle subjunctive of πετομαι petomai old verb, to fly, in N.T. only in the Apocalypse (Revelation 4:7; Revelation 8:13; Revelation 12:14; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 19:17). Resumption of the details in Revelation 12:6 (which see) about the “wilderness,” her “place,” the redundant εκει ekei with οπου hopou the “time and times, and half a time” (καιρον και καιρους και ημισυ kairon kai kairous kai hēmisu), 1260 days, but with τρεπεται trephetai (present passive indicative) instead of τρεπωσιν trephōsin (general plural of the present active subjunctive), and with the addition of “from the face of the serpent” (απο προσωπου του οπεως apo prosōpou tou opheōs), because the serpent rules the earth for that period. “To the end of the present order the Church dwells in the wilderness” (Swete), and yet we must carry on for Christ. [source]
Revelation 19:17Standing in the sun [εστωτα εν τωι ηλιωι] Second perfect active participle of ιστημι histēmi (intransitive). “Where all the birds of prey would behold him” (Beckwith). For ορνεοις orneois (birds) see Revelation 18:2 and for εν μεσουρανηματι en mesouranēmati (in mid heaven) see Revelation 18:13; Revelation 14:6.Come and be gathered together (Δευτε συναχτητε Deute sunachthēte). Δευτε Deute is the adverb δευρω deurō (hither), used when two or more are addressed, possibly from δευρο ιτε deuro ite (come here). Asyndeton also without και kai (and). First aorist passive imperative of συναγω sunagō The metaphor is drawn from Ezekiel 39:17.Unto the great supper of God The habits of vultures are described by Christ in Matthew 24:28. This is a bold and powerful picture of the battlefield after the victory of the Messiah, “a sacrificial feast spread on God‘s table for all the vultures of the sky” (Swete). Is this battle the same as that of Har Magedon (Revelation 16:16) and that of Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:8.) mentioned after the thousand years? The language in Revelation 20:8. seems like this derived from Ezekiel 39:17., and “in the Apocalypse priority in the order of sequence does not always imply priority in time” (Swete). There seems no way to decide this point save that the end seems to be at hand. [source]
Revelation 19:17Unto the great supper of God [εις το δειπνον το μεγα του τεου] The habits of vultures are described by Christ in Matthew 24:28. This is a bold and powerful picture of the battlefield after the victory of the Messiah, “a sacrificial feast spread on God‘s table for all the vultures of the sky” (Swete). Is this battle the same as that of Har Magedon (Revelation 16:16) and that of Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:8.) mentioned after the thousand years? The language in Revelation 20:8. seems like this derived from Ezekiel 39:17., and “in the Apocalypse priority in the order of sequence does not always imply priority in time” (Swete). There seems no way to decide this point save that the end seems to be at hand. [source]
Revelation 4:7Had [εχων] Masculine singular (some MSS. εχον echon neuter singular agreeing with ζωον zōon) present active participle of εχω echō changing the construction with the τριτον ζωον triton zōon almost like a finite verb as in Revelation 4:8.A face as of a man (προσωπον ως αντρωπου prosōpon hōs anthrōpou). Shows that the likeness in each instance extended only to the face.Like an eagle flying Present middle participle of πετομαι petomai to fly, old verb, in N.T. only in Revelation 4:7; Revelation 8:13; Revelation 12:14; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 19:17. The αετος aetos in Matthew 24:28; Luke 17:37 may be a form of vulture going after carrion, but not in Revelation 8:13; Revelation 12:14. [source]
What do the individual words in Matthew 24:28 mean?
For whereverifmay bethecarcasstherewill be gatheredthevultures
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀετός
Sense: an eagle: since eagles do not usually go in quest of carrion, this may to a vulture that resembles an eagle.
What are the major concepts related to Matthew 24:28?
Greek Commentary for Matthew 24:28
As in Matthew 14:12, the corpse. Originally a fallen body from πιπτω piptō to fall, like Latin cadaver from cado, to fall. The proverb here as in Luke 17:37, is like that in Job 39:30; Proverbs 30:17. [source]
Perhaps the griffon vulture, larger than the eagle, which (Aristotle) was often seen in the wake of an army and followed Napoleon‘s retreat from Russia. [source]
From πίπτω , to fall. Originallya fall, and thence a fallen body; acorpse. Compare Lat. cadaver, from cado, to fall. See Mark 6:29; Revelation 11:8. On the saying itself, compare Job 39:30. [source]
Rev. puts vultures in margin. The griffon vulture is meant, which surpasses the eagle in size and power. Aristotle notes how this bird scents its prey from afar, and congregates in the wake of an army. In the Russian war vast numbers were collected in the Crimea, and remained until the end of the campaign in the neighborhood of the camp, although previously scarcely known in the country. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 24:28
See on Matthew 24:28. Stier (“Words of Jesus”) says of Herod' “This man, whose inner life was burnt out; who was made up of contradictions, speaking of his kingdom like Ahasuerus, and yet the slave of his Jezebel; willingly hearing the prophet, and unwillingly killing him; who will be a Sadducee, and yet thinks of a resurrection; who has a superstitious fear of the Lord Jesus, and yet a curiosity to see him.”-DIVIDER- [source]
Better, Rev., corpse; as the word is used only of a dead body. See on Matthew 24:28. [source]
See note on Matthew 24:28. It was a mournful time for the disciples of John. “They went and told Jesus” (Matthew 14:12). What else could they do? [source]
See on Matthew 24:28. [source]
Or the vultures attracted by the carcass. This proverb is quoted also in Matthew 24:28. See Job 39:27-30; Habakkuk 1:8; and Hosea 8:1. Double compound (επισυν epi -επισυναχτησονται sun -) in epi -sun -achthēsontai completes the picture. [source]
See on Matthew 24:28. [source]
Read πτῶμα carcassSee on Matthew 24:28; see on Mark 15:45. [source]
Not the eagle of Revelation 8:13, but the generic use of the article. Every eagle had two wings. Probably here, as in Matthew 24:28, the griffon or vulture rather than the true eagle is pictured. For the eagle in the O.T. see Exodus 19:4; Isaiah 40:31; Job 9:26.That she might fly (ινα πετηται hina petētai). Purpose clause with ινα hina and present middle subjunctive of πετομαι petomai old verb, to fly, in N.T. only in the Apocalypse (Revelation 4:7; Revelation 8:13; Revelation 12:14; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 19:17). Resumption of the details in Revelation 12:6 (which see) about the “wilderness,” her “place,” the redundant εκει ekei with οπου hopou the “time and times, and half a time” (καιρον και καιρους και ημισυ kairon kai kairous kai hēmisu), 1260 days, but with τρεπεται trephetai (present passive indicative) instead of τρεπωσιν trephōsin (general plural of the present active subjunctive), and with the addition of “from the face of the serpent” (απο προσωπου του οπεως apo prosōpou tou opheōs), because the serpent rules the earth for that period. “To the end of the present order the Church dwells in the wilderness” (Swete), and yet we must carry on for Christ. [source]
Second perfect active participle of ιστημι histēmi (intransitive). “Where all the birds of prey would behold him” (Beckwith). For ορνεοις orneois (birds) see Revelation 18:2 and for εν μεσουρανηματι en mesouranēmati (in mid heaven) see Revelation 18:13; Revelation 14:6.Come and be gathered together (Δευτε συναχτητε Deute sunachthēte). Δευτε Deute is the adverb δευρω deurō (hither), used when two or more are addressed, possibly from δευρο ιτε deuro ite (come here). Asyndeton also without και kai (and). First aorist passive imperative of συναγω sunagō The metaphor is drawn from Ezekiel 39:17.Unto the great supper of God The habits of vultures are described by Christ in Matthew 24:28. This is a bold and powerful picture of the battlefield after the victory of the Messiah, “a sacrificial feast spread on God‘s table for all the vultures of the sky” (Swete). Is this battle the same as that of Har Magedon (Revelation 16:16) and that of Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:8.) mentioned after the thousand years? The language in Revelation 20:8. seems like this derived from Ezekiel 39:17., and “in the Apocalypse priority in the order of sequence does not always imply priority in time” (Swete). There seems no way to decide this point save that the end seems to be at hand. [source]
The habits of vultures are described by Christ in Matthew 24:28. This is a bold and powerful picture of the battlefield after the victory of the Messiah, “a sacrificial feast spread on God‘s table for all the vultures of the sky” (Swete). Is this battle the same as that of Har Magedon (Revelation 16:16) and that of Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:8.) mentioned after the thousand years? The language in Revelation 20:8. seems like this derived from Ezekiel 39:17., and “in the Apocalypse priority in the order of sequence does not always imply priority in time” (Swete). There seems no way to decide this point save that the end seems to be at hand. [source]
Present middle participle of πετομαι petomai to fly, old verb, in N.T. only in Revelation 4:7; Revelation 8:13; Revelation 12:14; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 19:17. The αετος aetos in Matthew 24:28; Luke 17:37 may be a form of vulture going after carrion, but not in Revelation 8:13; Revelation 12:14. [source]
Masculine singular (some MSS. εχον echon neuter singular agreeing with ζωον zōon) present active participle of εχω echō changing the construction with the τριτον ζωον triton zōon almost like a finite verb as in Revelation 4:8.A face as of a man (προσωπον ως αντρωπου prosōpon hōs anthrōpou). Shows that the likeness in each instance extended only to the face.Like an eagle flying Present middle participle of πετομαι petomai to fly, old verb, in N.T. only in Revelation 4:7; Revelation 8:13; Revelation 12:14; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 19:17. The αετος aetos in Matthew 24:28; Luke 17:37 may be a form of vulture going after carrion, but not in Revelation 8:13; Revelation 12:14. [source]